Title tough to hang onto - Hayden

Wednesday 25 January 2006 00:12 BST

MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden is convinced hanging onto his title will prove immeasurably harder than winning it in the first place.

Repsol Honda rider Hayden secured his maiden championship crown in motorcycle racing's premier class when he came home third in the final grand prix of the 2006 season at Valencia. But Hayden cites the rule changes which will limit motorcycles' maximum engine capacities to 800cc, instead of 990cc, and a smarting Valentino Rossi as reasons to brace himself for an even tougher test.

He said: "I have got to get ready for the toughest season of my career. I do not think the rule changes will mean the racing changes a lot - the lap times will soon be pretty similar, I think, and the racing will be just as exciting. But Valentino will come back even stronger and we have a crop of young riders how are all so hungry for success."

He added: "Next season will be much harder than 2006 but I want to win that title again so badly because I know just how great the feeling is.

"I would love to sit around and talk about 2006 but I have not got the time, I have to get ready for 2007."

Hayden went into last season with his future uncertain, although he later signed a new contract with the factory-backed Honda team which will run until the end of the 2008 term.

But already the 25-year-old's preparations for the forthcoming season have been hampered.

In November Hayden underwent surgery on a shoulder injury and was forced to miss the final post-season test session of the year in Jerez. A test ban is currently in force until the MotoGP paddock descend upon the Malaysian circuit of Sepang on Saturday, January 20, when Hayden is expected to be back in the saddle.

He said: "At the start of this year testing was not so good and I went into the season a little bit nervous because what was then my contract with Honda was almost up.

"This time around I have had this shoulder problem which I carried into the Valencia grand prix but which I kept a secret - I did not want other riders to think they had an edge over me or, for my part, to focus on negatives."